10th April 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

ABDULHADI ALKHAWAJA
Danish Prime Minister demands release of Abdulhadi Alkhawaja: Bahraini prisoner in very critical condition: Danish PM A jailed activist who has been on hunger strike in a Bahrain prison for the last two months is now in a very critical condition, Denmark's prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said on Tuesday. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a Shiite with dual Danish and Bahraini nationality, was sentenced with other opposition activists to life in jail over an alleged plot to topple the Sunni monarchy during a month-long protest a year ago. Read More More:
Denmark: Bahrain activist condition critical - The National Denmark prime minister calls on Bahrain to release jailed activist - 4/10/2012 2:32:10 PM | Newser Lebanon news - NOW Lebanon -Denmark awaits Bahrain's ofcial reply on jailed activist Denmark PM to Bahrain: release jailed activist - San Jose Mercury News The Associated Press: Denmark PM to Bahrain: release jailed activist

Bahrain claims Abdulhadi is in good condition: Bahrain says hunger strike activist in "good condition" A jailed leader of Bahrain's pro-democracy protests is in "good condition" despite two months on hunger strike, the state news agency BNA said on Tuesday, but added his life could be at risk if he keeps refusing food and medication. Bahraini security forces, with help from other Sunni-led Gulf Arab states, crushed last year's pro-democracy uprising, mainly by majority Shi'ite Muslims against the Sunni royal family, but protests remain frequent and often end in violence. Read More More:
Bahrain says hunger strike activist in "good condition" - chicagotribune.com Bahrain denies hunger striker is critical Bahrain denies hunger striker's health is critical Bahraini Regime Claims Al-Khawaja in Good Health Activist in good health says Bahrain ministry Bahrain says activist on hunger strike is ne - Updated News www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.asp?id=62521 Despite Critical Situation, Bahrain Refuses to Send Khawaja to Denmark Denmark calls for Bahrain prisoner transfer - ArabianBusiness.com Bahrain Refuses to Extradite Activist on Hunger Strike

But still many saying his situation is critical: Bahrain: fears for life of jailed activist on hunger strike Bahraini activist, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, has now been on hunger strike for over two months in protest of the life sentence he received for his role in the anti-government unrest that began last year. And with Bahrain turning down a request to transfer Al-Khawaja, who also holds Danish citizenship, to Denmark, there is growing concern over his health which appears to be deteriorating. Read More More:
Bahrain hunger-striker's life in danger - UPI.com Bahrain Human-Rights Activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja Dying in Prison - The Daily Beast Bahraini HungerStriker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja On Verge Of Coma

General articles on Abdulhadi Alkhawaja: Bahrain: Tensions Mount over Al Khawajas release and Calls for F1 Grand Prixs Cancellation Protesters in Bahrain continued to demonstrate as tensions over the planned F1 Grand Prix continue to rise, marching on the US embassy to protest against the abuses committed by the government. They also called for the release of activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and the cancellation of the F1 Grand Prix in the Gulf State. Read More More:
Headlines for Tuesday, April 10, 2012 | Free Speech Radio News Amnesty calls for release of hunger striker in Bahrain | News - Home Protest in Lebanon Over Jailed Bahraini Activist on Hunger Strike Bahraini hunger strikers daughter speaks out - Culture & Society - ArabianBusiness.com Pressure mounts on Bahrain as hunger striker reaches 62nd day (+video) - CSMonitor.com

Formula 1
Lots of discussion on the F1 teams attitude to the race. Some reporting Bernie Ecclestone say its up to the teams, whilst the teams express their concerns. Formula 1 - Bernie Ecclestone stands rm on Bahrain GP Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says "there is no indication that the Bahrain Grand Prix won't go ahead", as further protests in the country leads to more questions on the staging of the race. Last year's Bahrain Grand Prix was called off because of political demonstrations and crackdowns but F1's governing body, the International Automobile Federation, says it has been assured by the hosts that security will be guaranteed. Read More More:
Threats fuel concerns over Bahrain GP Formula One teams insist they are powerless to prevent Bahrain Grand Prix from going ahead - Telegraph Fears surround Bahrain GP | Logan Motorsports | Car Racing, Rally Driving, V8 Supercars in Logan | The Reporter F1: FOTA Says FIA, Not Teams, Must Make Bahrain Call F1 teams consider Bahrain options F1 teams 'want to postpone Bahrain race' - Sport - ArabianBusiness.com F1 teams want FIA to postpone Bahrain Grand Prix Worried teams ready to pull out of Bahrain GP - Sport - DNA F1 teams may pull out of Bahrain GP amid security concerns Anonymous F1 team boss expresses concerns over life threats at Bahrain GP | Formula One | Formula One Drivers Formula One teams reluctant to race in Bahrain amid unrest | Perth Now Team boss hopes Bahrain called off :: PaddockTalk :: F1, Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP, ALMS, And More! Bosses urge FIA to call off Bahrain GP | Planet F1 | Formula One News F1 chiefs won't force teams to Bahrain | Sport | BigPond News I won't force teams to Bahrain: Ecclestone | Fox Sports F1 teams cant be forced to compete in Bahrain: Ecclestone | Oman Observer F1 supremo powerless to force teams to Bahrain - OMGLOBE.com F1: We cant force teams to go, says Ecclestone The Express Tribune Bernie Ecclestone says F1 teams will make their own decisions on Bahrain - The National Ecclestone dismisses Bahrain fears | Setanta icBirmingham - Ecclestone: Bahrain action down to teams F1: Ecclestone powerless to force teams to race in violent Bahrain Teams happy to race in Bahrain, says Bernie Ecclestone | Bahrain Grand Prix | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1 Ecclestone says making call to attend Formula One Bahrain race is up to teams - Autoweek Bernie Ecclestone: Bahrain GP security not a worry for F1 teams - Telegraph Ecclestone: Teams free to make Bahrain choice - Formula 1 - Eurosport Asia Ecclestone: 'No concerns over Bahrain GP' - Sports Mole BBC Sport - Formula 1 - Bernie Ecclestone stands rm on Bahrain GP F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone will not force teams to race in Bahrain - Motor News | FOX Sports on MSN Bernie Ecclestone nudges teams towards Bahrain GP participation | Metro.co.uk KL.FM 96.7 - News - F1 Teams To Have The Final Say Over Bahrain GP F1: Ecclestone Says Bahrain Decision Up To Teams Bernie: We can't force teams to go to Bahrain | Planet F1 | Formula One News We cannot force teams to go to Bahrain - Bernie Ecclestone | Bahrain Grand Prix | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1

Bahrain goes on the offensive saying GP is OK to go ahead, former Champion agrees: Bahrain circuit chairman accuses extremist groups of sowing doubts about Formula One race Extremist groups are using scare-mongering tactics in a bid to exaggerate the unrest in Bahrain and force the cancellation of the countrys Formula One race, the circuit chairman claimed Tuesday. There have been growing calls for the April 22 Bahrain Grand Prix to be canceled for a second straight year because of daily clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters that have led to 50 deaths. A jailed activist on a two-month hunger strike has also galvanized rights groups, who have called on teams to boycott the race. Read More More:
Jackie Stewart wants Bahrain GP to go ahead - Middle East - Al Jazeera English Bahrain responds to doubts over Formula One race - Autoweek Bahrain slams F1 scaremongering Danish PM says Khawaja in very critical condition | Kuwait Times Bahrain Grand Prix chief stands rm against 'scaremongering tactics' | Sports - WPTZ Home Bahrain circuit chairman accuses 'extremist groups' of creating doubts about race - 4/10/2012 12:39:56 PM | Newser Bahrain GP must go ahead for the sake of the world, argues F1 great Sir Jackie Stewart | Metro.co.uk Bahrain bosses attack 'scaremongering tactics' | F1 News | Apr 2012 | Crash.Net F1: Bahrain Hits Back At Criticism Bahrain condemns ''scaremongering'' over F1 race | SBS World News pitpass - Bahrain International Circuit issues a statement gulfnews : F1 security plans in place, Bahrain adviser says Stewart calls on Bahrain to go ahead | F1 News | Apr 2012 | Crash.Net Bahrain's Interior Ministry adviser John Yates says F1 security will be 'low key and discreet' - Daily Journal Bahrain chief blames 'scaremongering' - Yahoo! Eurosport Bahrain slams scaremongers amid call for F1 rethink - Sport - ArabianBusiness.com Bahrain assures Formula One security

But despite Bahrain claims, still lots of doubt in media: Formula One faces major ethical dilemma over whether to go racing in Bahrain The manner in which last years civil uprising was brutally repressed by Bahrains authorities, leading to dozens of civilian casualties and the torture of many more, shone an uncomfortable light on the countrys human rights record. Teams and sponsors are naturally wary of being seen to endorse a regime capable of such atrocities and nervous that the only way to ensure the peaceful running of the race would mean further restrictions being placed on free speech and basic human rights. Read More More:
BBC News - Grand Prix dilemma in Bahrain Formula 1 / Bahrain Grand Prix / Blood of Martyrs? - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News Bahrain shines uncomfortable light on F1's moral credentials F1 Bahrain Race in Jeopardy Again Fans Reaction - Yahoo! Sports Bahrain Grand Prix in doubt amid tension over hunger striker | World news | The Guardian Growing uncertainty over Bahrain > F1 News > Grandprix.com Fears for Bahrain track invasion | The Sun |Sport|Motorsport pitpass - Some unintentional humour from Bahrain? F1: Insider expects F1 to lose two races in 2012 | News | Motorsport.com F1's Groundhog Day - Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain Grand Prix | F1 features | ESPN F1 Opposition ups pressure to halt Bahrain Grand Prix | Free Malaysia Today F1: Insiders Expect Bahrain To Be Axed | Reviews | Prices | Australian specications

Also reported that Bahrain used a statement from Lotus Team for PR without permission F1: Bahrain Used Quotes From Condential Report, Says Lotus Lotus F1 has distanced itself from a Bahrain International Circuit press release that threw a positive light on current events in the country. Read More More:
pitpass - Lotus: BIC used condential report

BOMB ATTACK ON POLICE

It was widely reported that 7 police were injured in Eker Village in a bomb attack: Further doubts over Bahrain GP as seven policemen are wounded by bomb Events at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix are in danger of being overshadowed by uncertainty over whether the following race in Bahrain will go ahead amidst continued political unrest in the Gulf state. At present, Formula One teams are working on the principal that the Bahrain Grand Prix is still on despite concerns over the safety of their employees and misgivings about staging a race in a country whose human rights record has been brought into question. Read More More:
KUNA : Bahrain parliament denounces terrorist bombing in village - Politics - 10/04/2012 KUNA : Bahrain arrest four persons after bomb attack - Politics - 10/04/2012 Bahrain arrests 4 after 'terrorist attack' on policemen | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia Bomb injures 7 Bahraini policemen | The Australian gulfnews : Bahrain probes bombing that injured seven Bahrain arrests four after terrorist attack on policemen Bahrain police injured in bomb attack - Updated News .:Middle East Online::Bomb attack targets policemen in Bahrain:. Bahraini police hurt in bomb blast - Daily News | News | IOL.co.za Seven policemen injured in Bahrain blast Bahrain - Blast Injures 7 Police Ofcers During Protest - NYTimes.com

GENERAL
Other general articles on Bahrain: U.S.s shameful Bahrain policy Behind the walls of a prison compound, the man who helped lead last years pro-democracy protests in Bahrain is continuing a lonely, painful battle for freedom away from the media spotlight. Abdulhadi AlKhawaja has endured beatings, torture and a life sentence handed down from a military court, all for the crime of advocating human rights and democracy in his country. In response to these injustices, on February 8th 2012 he initiated a hunger strike which he promised to continue until either his release or his death, and which he has now led into its 61st day. Read More More:
Democracy Now! Host Amy Goodman Named "Truthdigger of the Week" for Bahrain Coverage Bahrain violence hurts everyone - The National Finance minister denies plan to shut down Gulf Air Bahrain: Queens invite to dictator|14Apr12|Socialist Worker